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It sounds like the Cometa was produced without Jaxman’s authorization and it appears to be a copy of the Jaxman light. So much so that there may be consumer confusion. People may think that Jaxman is involved in producing parts of this light.

That said, most people who bought the Cometa are flashlight enthusiasts here or on CPF. These purchasers are highly knowledgeable and are are not the typical flashlight consumer. Essentially those who bought the Cometa did so expecting to get a customized, or “modded” light. There may be less risk of confusion than among less knowledgeable consumers. Though there is still a risk if someone who is not so knowledgeable sees a Cometa in someone else’s hands and thinks Jaxman produced it.

Is the Cometa an unlicensed knockoff? Probably. It would have been better to obtain Jaxman’s permission to use their design or parts before making the Cometa.

Alternatively, this problem could have been avoided simply by making the exterior design of the light unique. Rather than making the outside of the body and head look exactly the same as the Jax Z1, Manker should have made stylistic changes to insure a unique-looking light. If it looked different enough, there is much less risk of consumer confusion.

Alternatively, this problem could have been avoided simply by making the exterior design of the light unique. Rather than making the outside of the body and head look exactly the same as the Jax Z1, Manker should have made stylistic changes to insure a unique-looking light.

It has been advertised as Jax Z1, how could they change the design? Btw, the only reason why I joined the group buy.

We are Jaxman Electronics Co.,Ltd from China.Sorry for wasting your time of attention this.

Today,one of BLF guys tell me,there is a flashlight named COMETA.This flashlight is a 100 copy of Jaxman Z1 on outlook.
While, we never know the COMETA flashlight untill now.

COMETA is not our trade mark, and not our product, original nor OEM.Though they are have same outlook except different logoes.

The seller of COMETA, Banggood, is one of our dealer, and they also sell Z1 flashlights. While,we did not manufacture for Banggood OEM flashlight at all. In months ago,they had purchased about 100 pcs Z1 ar+af lenses for aftersale service,so I find now it was prepared for the COMETA.

We confirm again:the COMETA is not a Jaxman made product, and we should do something to stop this kinds of invadsion to our copyrights.

Thank you.

Well said ‘jaxman’!!! Thank you for being straight forward and clearing this matter up.

Your post has made it crystal clear……

Best regards to you………

—

You never know how a horse will pull until you hook him up to a heavy load./"Bear" Bryant

All I have to say is, that I’m glad that’s one of the few community sourced lights I didn’t own. Looks like there’s a lot of problems, and it seems not worth the effort. Plus my modded Brinyte B158 is a great light with close to the same output.

If anything, your modded B158 has more throw than even a modded Cometa.

The seller of COMETA, Banggood, is one of our dealer, and they also sell Z1 flashlights. While,we did not manufacture for Banggood OEM flashlight at all. In months ago,they had purchased about 100 pcs Z1 ar+af lenses for aftersale service,so I find now it was prepared for the COMETA.

Yes, they are Jaxman made lights, bought as service parts and used by BG, to make a special run of lights. It is something that many resellers have done over the years with most all the generic manufacturers. Nothing new here. Jaxman does not want liability is all. It is still their bodies, heads, tail caps, etc. Other components were made for BG by other manufacturers and it was all lumped together to make the run.

Remember it's kind of like the wild west here and resellers want money, just like anyone else. Everyone probably felt it was perfectly legal, but ethics are a much broader and more grey area here.

Those special lights were probably less costly than actually making a special run, as service parts are usually bought from a Mfg., (like Jaxman), at a reduced rate.

In the race to make all these special lights, the people organizing have to really become the ones to double check everything and not allow for unscrupulous practices. You absolutely have to know your reseller, your manufacturer, your component manufacturers, etc. It all has to be overseen by someone at the top and checked and rechecked. Even then it can fall apart, as it often does.

I have not read much on the whole Cometa thing, but it seems like it was basically too much initial trust put into the people putting the light together, buy the people signing off on it.

I don't think it's accurate to say they are Jaxman made lights. Buying a few parts from Jaxman to assemble lights (as Banggood admits in another post) doesn't make it a Jaxman light any more than me buying a barrel bushing and barrel from Colt makes what I'm selling a Colt 1911.

It does not mean it's a Colt, but if a Colt component was used, the Colt reliability is still assumed, because of the Colt brand name, although here, these were unbranded parts, which means that they were not really "repair parts", as repair bodies would already have the Logo on them. I still stand by what I said. Jaxman is simply trying to keep from having any responsibility or involvement and that is fine, but at the time, it could even be that a person working for Jaxman could have sold unmarked bodies, heads, etc., to Banggood for a cut rate price, just to have a sale and Jaxman has since seen that has happened. Doesn't really matter, as Banggood is still the culprit, just as they have in most all their other sales. All of the major sellers we have seen, will whore themselves for a sale and safety is not the #1 concern. I am sure they had hoped it would have gone better, but dollars are the only thing that makes a sale, for a seller, not quality.

Also the Uniquefire 1504 can be modded to blow away pretty much anything in it’s size.

Bottom line, We don’t need any more Zoomies.
It’s all been done now.

Nah, nonsense.

I’ve recently purchased the Uniquefire 1405 and the Jax Z1, the Jax is far better and they’re numerous things I don’t like on the Uniquefire.

There’re plenty of zoomies out there but not many good ones and that’s why the group buy for the Cometa was so popular as they were expecting to get a very good light, the Jax Z1 with the mods already done.

Just double-checked, lot's of things different between the Cometa I rcv'd and the JAX Z1 I have:

tailcaps don't LEGO

bezels don't LEGO

styling/dimensional differences on exterior body parts, other than, and including the tailcap and bezel

the aspheric lens is definitely different with a different tint, and the Cometa appears to be lower performing

then of course the other different design elements in the pill area, both lower end and top end

Just fyi and my own opinion, from the list above, I can't see any part that is identical to a Z1 part, so I believe Manker is correct, and Jaxman was not deceived about parts being re-used in the Cometa run.

I can only say these are the differences between the Cometa and Z1 I have though - one piece compared to one piece.

Also the Uniquefire 1504 can be modded to blow away pretty much anything in it’s size.

Bottom line, We don’t need any more Zoomies.
It’s all been done now.

Nah, nonsense.

I’ve recently purchased the Uniquefire 1405 and the Jax Z1, the Jax is far better and they’re numerous things I don’t like on the Uniquefire.

Wondering if there’s an apples vs oranges comparison here. The Uniquefire 1504 has similarities to the 1405, but a different form factor. I believe the 1504, while larger in all dimensions to the Cometa, is the more appropriate comparison. I say that with a 1504 sitting next to a Cometa on my desk (both next to my favorite zoomie, a modded Uniquefire 1503, which is very close dimension-wise to the Cometa), Don’t have the 1405 or Z1 to compare.

Maybe this question comes from ignorance of the inner workings of the special editions, but it seems like these problems could be avoided by starting out the dealings with a trusted manufacturer (Jaxman, Convoy, etc.) rather than a dealer/retailer (Banggood, etc.). The thread sounds like BG was free to cobble together a light with parts from who-know-where rather than dealing with known parts form a known and trusted manufacturer.

And, IMHO, there is NO excuse for deviations from spec like using smaller wires. EVER. It should make any organizers think twice or more about using such a manufacturer, and should make any manufacturer think twice or more if it is worth ruining their reputation in the flashlight community to save a penny or two.

Alternatively, this problem could have been avoided simply by making the exterior design of the light unique. Rather than making the outside of the body and head look exactly the same as the Jax Z1, Manker should have made stylistic changes to insure a unique-looking light.

It has been advertised as Jax Z1, how could they change the design? Btw, the only reason why I joined the group buy.

They could have used the same or similar lens as the Jax Z1, but changed the body styling. Change the body shape so it doesn’t look like a Jax Z1 at a glance, change the knurling. Add different heatsink fins, etc. The important part would be making sure the changes were sufficient to avoid consumer confusion.

For you the selling point may be that it was a modded Jax Z1. But to avoid making an illegal copy of Jaxman’s light, Manker should have designed their own unique body. I’m sure many people would have joined the group buy if it was advertised as being a custom zoomie with AR coated lens, BLF-A6 driver and XPL HI, with HAIII anodizing.

IMHO, there is NO excuse for deviations from spec like using smaller wires. EVER. It should make any organizers think twice or more about using such a manufacturer

The thing is, the organizers who received the samples thought they had a real Z1 in hand all this time, or they actually received Jax Z1 prototypes before the production of the copy started. Bangood didn’t change anything on the exterior because their intention was to create an exact copy of the Z1. Simply put, we were sold counterfeit flashlights.

I see that banggood hasn’t been able to answer my simple question yet, BANGGOOD: were you aware we asked for JAX Z1 and not a MANKER made copy?

For the common good of this forum, the next groupbuy involving a existing flashlight and Banggood I will personally make sure they state clearly if it’s just another copy coming from manker factories, just like the X6 and the Cometa.

Also the Uniquefire 1504 can be modded to blow away pretty much anything in it’s size.

Bottom line, We don’t need any more Zoomies.
It’s all been done now.

Nah, nonsense.

I’ve recently purchased the Uniquefire 1405 and the Jax Z1, the Jax is far better and they’re numerous things I don’t like on the Uniquefire.

Wondering if there’s an apples vs oranges comparison here. The Uniquefire 1504 has similarities to the 1405, but a different form factor. I believe the 1504, while larger in all dimensions to the Cometa, is the more appropriate comparison. I say that with a 1504 sitting next to a Cometa on my desk (both next to my favorite zoomie, a modded Uniquefire 1503, which is very close dimension-wise to the Cometa), Don’t have the 1405 or Z1 to compare.

I’m just saying that the Jax Z1 which the Cometa should’ve been is superior to the UltraFire, it is like comparing apples to oranges as they’re not in the same price range but Muto made the comparison.

The only real difference between the 1504 and 1405 is the length of the tube for the extra battery.

Muto is effectively saying we didn’t need the Cometa and we don’t need any more zoomies, but if the Cometa was indeed the modded Jax Z1 it would’ve been superior to the Brintye which he mentions and the Uniquefire.

The JAX X6 to me, is one of the best so called “BUDGET” lights out there of the highest fit finish and machining quality, for the $$$$ bar none. I have quite a few X6’s had (3) Z1’s found one Z1 I modded with a XHP70 and FETDD driver, a couple years ago and stored away, and now the new X1. I like that you came out, made your statement, and are standing your ground, way to GO! JAX and Convoy are my 2 most favorite makers of hand held illumination devices for my money! Continue to move forward and bring us your best, thanks!!

And if memory serves me even the organisers said “based on” and the lack of response now, the closing of the topic on CPF Italia and no attempt to show the Cometa Lego with Jaxman gives me the strong feeling organisers are and were well aware of differences.

I am moderator on CPF Italia and I have closed the cometa thread, because we are waiting updates from BangGood, and users keept asking the same qestions: Is there an update? When is the Europa coupon ready? When are they updating us… And so on.
When there are no official announcments from the relevant parts, it’s not useful a 91 page thread that every day gets 2 more pages of irrelevant questions.

Hello Guys, i’m Wonwuster one of the admins on CPFItalia.
As Budda said, we are waiting for some news about the COMETA from Banggood. None of us in CPFItalia have more news than the ones that we already know.

I personally wrote three email to Neal, asking informations about the project and other news of the troubles that all of us know very well, but none of the email sent was replied.

I kindly ask patience about this project because we are all in the same boat, and when Cyberscudo will have some updates or i will be able to have some news from Neal, i will write on CPFItalia and here on BLF for sure.

If you’re asking for everyone to be patient, does that mean that progress is being made in resolving this debacle?

Unfortunately I cannot surely answer because, as I said in my last message, I have no more news than the ones that all we already know. I hope that this project will be achieved in the way that we planned time ago.

Is this unsafe, “fake”, not working 100% light a reason to do a paypal claim? Clearly Neal from BG has no replies to anybody, and like others GBs with Manker/Banggood all just run out in the sea, and we are stuck with the product.

What will others do? Keep the light or ask for a refund? And they that keep the light, are you handy man/woman that can solder and fix anything?

Also the Uniquefire 1504 can be modded to blow away pretty much anything in it’s size.

Bottom line, We don’t need any more Zoomies.
It’s all been done now.

Nah, nonsense.

I’ve recently purchased the Uniquefire 1405 and the Jax Z1, the Jax is far better and they’re numerous things I don’t like on the Uniquefire.

Wondering if there’s an apples vs oranges comparison here. The Uniquefire 1504 has similarities to the 1405, but a different form factor. I believe the 1504, while larger in all dimensions to the Cometa, is the more appropriate comparison. I say that with a 1504 sitting next to a Cometa on my desk (both next to my favorite zoomie, a modded Uniquefire 1503, which is very close dimension-wise to the Cometa), Don’t have the 1405 or Z1 to compare.

I’m just saying that the Jax Z1 which the Cometa should’ve been is superior to the UltraFire, it is like comparing apples to oranges as they’re not in the same price range but Muto made the comparison.

The only real difference between the 1504 and 1405 is the length of the tube for the extra battery.

Muto is effectively saying we didn’t need the Cometa and we don’t need any more zoomies, but if the Cometa was indeed the modded Jax Z1 it would’ve been superior to the Brintye which he mentions and the Uniquefire.

I also have a Brintye B158.

I do not have the Jax Z1 so you have me at a dis-advantage there. I am sure it is a nice light.
What I do have is a Kloepper Knife Works modded Uniquefire 1504 that puts out 429k and has a lighted tailcap (Worth every penny)
It cost just over $100 and with that output, I am saying “I don’t need any more Zoomies” so please forgive me for using the phrase “we don’t need any more zoomies”
Now if you can tell me how to get the Cometa to 429k for $100 I am all ears. They advertise the group buy one at 198k and some members have gotten over 205k but that is still half of the modded Uniquefire 1504.

I spent that amount of money to stop the purchasing of flashlights that do the same job but only slightly better.
Multiple purchases quickly add up over the $100 threshold.
It’s like you when get used to driving a car with 300hp and it seems fine, but when you get the 500hp one, suddenly there is no going back.

I also erred in saying the 1504 doesn’t take the 26650, sorry, just have too many zoomies I guess
It’s all good.
Thanks
Keith

—

“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sometimes rhymes,” Mark Twain

..
Well I don’t know if I’m coming or going
If it’s them or me
Oh, but one things for certain
Willie Nelson only smokes the killer weed
…
After the Apocalypse there will be only 2 things left alive, Cockroaches and Keith Richards

Also the Uniquefire 1504 can be modded to blow away pretty much anything in it’s size.

Bottom line, We don’t need any more Zoomies.
It’s all been done now.

Nah, nonsense.

I’ve recently purchased the Uniquefire 1405 and the Jax Z1, the Jax is far better and they’re numerous things I don’t like on the Uniquefire.

Wondering if there’s an apples vs oranges comparison here. The Uniquefire 1504 has similarities to the 1405, but a different form factor. I believe the 1504, while larger in all dimensions to the Cometa, is the more appropriate comparison. I say that with a 1504 sitting next to a Cometa on my desk (both next to my favorite zoomie, a modded Uniquefire 1503, which is very close dimension-wise to the Cometa), Don’t have the 1405 or Z1 to compare.

I’m just saying that the Jax Z1 which the Cometa should’ve been is superior to the UltraFire, it is like comparing apples to oranges as they’re not in the same price range but Muto made the comparison.

The only real difference between the 1504 and 1405 is the length of the tube for the extra battery.

Muto is effectively saying we didn’t need the Cometa and we don’t need any more zoomies, but if the Cometa was indeed the modded Jax Z1 it would’ve been superior to the Brintye which he mentions and the Uniquefire.

I also have a Brintye B158.

I do not have the Jax Z1 so you have me at a dis-advantage there. I am sure it is a nice light.
What I do have is a Kloepper Knife Works modded Uniquefire 1504 that puts out 429k and has a lighted tailcap (Worth every penny)
It cost just over $100 and with that output, I am saying “I don’t need any more Zoomies” so please forgive me for using the phrase “we don’t need any more zoomies”
Now if you can tell me how to get the Cometa to 429k for $100 I am all ears. They advertise the group buy one at 198k and some members have gotten over 205k but that is still half of the modded Uniquefire 1504.

I spent that amount of money to stop the purchasing of flashlights that do the same job but only slightly better.
Multiple purchases quickly add up over the $100 threshold.
It’s like you when get used to driving a car with 300hp and it seems fine, but when you get the 500hp one, suddenly there is no going back.

I also erred in saying the 1504 doesn’t take the 26650, sorry, just have too many zoomies I guess
It’s all good.
Thanks
Keith

The seller of COMETA, Banggood, is one of our dealer, and they also sell Z1 flashlights. While,we did not manufacture for Banggood OEM flashlight at all. In months ago,they had purchased about 100 pcs Z1 ar+af lenses for aftersale service,so I find now it was prepared for the COMETA.

Yes, they are Jaxman made lights, bought as service parts and used by BG, to make a special run of lights. It is something that many resellers have done over the years with most all the generic manufacturers. Nothing new here. Jaxman does not want liability is all. It is still their bodies, heads, tail caps, etc. Other components were made for BG by other manufacturers and it was all lumped together to make the run.

Remember it's kind of like the wild west here and resellers want money, just like anyone else. Everyone probably felt it was perfectly legal, but ethics are a much broader and more grey area here.

Those special lights were probably less costly than actually making a special run, as service parts are usually bought from a Mfg., (like Jaxman), at a reduced rate.

In the race to make all these special lights, the people organizing have to really become the ones to double check everything and not allow for unscrupulous practices. You absolutely have to know your reseller, your manufacturer, your component manufacturers, etc. It all has to be overseen by someone at the top and checked and rechecked. Even then it can fall apart, as it often does.

I have not read much on the whole Cometa thing, but it seems like it was basically too much initial trust put into the people putting the light together, buy the people signing off on it.

I don't think it's accurate to say they are Jaxman made lights. Buying a few parts from Jaxman to assemble lights (as Banggood admits in another post) doesn't make it a Jaxman light any more than me buying a barrel bushing and barrel from Colt makes what I'm selling a Colt 1911.

It does not mean it's a Colt, but if a Colt component was used, the Colt reliability is still assumed, because of the Colt brand name, although here, these were unbranded parts, which means that they were not really "repair parts", as repair bodies would already have the Logo on them. I still stand by what I said. Jaxman is simply trying to keep from having any responsibility or involvement and that is fine, but at the time, it could even be that a person working for Jaxman could have sold unmarked bodies, heads, etc., to Banggood for a cut rate price, just to have a sale and Jaxman has since seen that has happened. Doesn't really matter, as Banggood is still the culprit, just as they have in most all their other sales. All of the major sellers we have seen, will whore themselves for a sale and safety is not the #1 concern. I am sure they had hoped it would have gone better, but dollars are the only thing that makes a sale, for a seller, not quality.

Old Lumens, From what I have gathered, there are no Jaxman components in the Cometa. Except perhaps some lenses maybe supplied unwittingly as spare parts. Jaxman have stated so. Banggood have admitted so. Manker have confirmed that they manufactured the Cometa as "build-to-print" to a Banggood design. The main mechanical parts do not "Lego". There appears to be no commonality here, except the outward appearance, which has been copied so closely that even experienced owners of both were initially fooled. I see no reason to doubt any of these clear statements. Therefore I do not give your speculation any credence. I think it is unhelpful to continue to repeat it.

That's fine. I just don't think I will bother taking it all down, as you have pointed it out... it's not valid info, it's been noted by you. I didn't read everything about the controversy and I probably never will, so I should probably just stay out of it, since I don't really plan on being all that involved anyhow. Guess I was just not sleeping last night at the hospital and felt like running my mouth after all these days of silence.

..
Well I don’t know if I’m coming or going
If it’s them or me
Oh, but one things for certain
Willie Nelson only smokes the killer weed
…
After the Apocalypse there will be only 2 things left alive, Cockroaches and Keith Richards

I can’t figure out this.
BG bought 100 lens for replacing, warranty and co.
Now, some say BG used the jaxman lens in the cometa produced by manker , while others say that the cometa lens is cleary inferior to the jaxman one. Which one is true?

Also, I’d like to hear how can you make hundreds reserved lights with 100 lens